By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
Anyone who watches
John Pius on Saturday afternoons knows he has but one gear, and that's full throttle. The opponent, its conference and its level couldn't matter less.
But going into last week's game at the University of Virginia, Pius comes clean that it meant a little extra. The Cavaliers are a Power Five program with a stadium that seats 61,500. The game was televised by the ACC Network.
"It was definitely sweeter with more fans, more people in attendance, and not being afraid to be myself under bigger lights," said Pius, William & Mary's high-energy outside linebacker. "It made everything much sweeter and gave me more motivation to perform like I always try to do each game."
Under those big lights (figuratively speaking, since it was a noon kickoff), Pius gave one of his best performances. He had eight tackles, including 2.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble, which he recovered and returned 57 yards to set up the Tribe's only touchdown.
"He had an awesome, awesome day," W&M coach
Mike London said. "He's highly competitive. At any level, FCS level or FBS level, he's proven with demonstrated performance that he can play this game and has a terrific skillset. He's only going to continue getting better."
A junior, Pius already has 21.5 sacks in his career. But his most-memorable play from Saturday wasn't officially a sack.
With the Tribe leading 6-3 early in the second quarter, Virginia had first-and-10 at the W&M 39-yard line. With Cavalier quarterback Tony Muskett in the shotgun, Pius lined up at left end across from right tackle Jimmy Christ, a 6-foot-7, 317-pound grad transfer from Penn State.
On the snap, Pius blew past the blocker, forcing Muskett to scramble out of trouble. He had room to run, at least enough to move the sticks. But just as Muskett crossed the line of scrimmage, Pius took him down from behind.
As Muskett landed on top of Pius, the ball hit the linebacker's helmet and popped loose. Pius quickly got to his feet, picked up the ball at the 37, and took off.
"From there, I was just seeing green," Pius said. "I looked back at the last second, and I think that's what messed me up."
It was running back Perris Jones, a championship sprinter in high school, who finally chased Pius down at the U.Va. 4-yard line.
Martin Lucas' 1-yard touchdown run put the Tribe ahead 13-3.
"It was pretty surreal for me to just be able to have that type of play, but hopefully I'll score next time," Pius said. "I was getting a lot of, 'Man, you should have been faster.' But like I was trying to tell them, I was still kind of gassed from chasing their QB across the field."
At least he was caught by a player with a single-digit number, not someone in the 50s or 60s.
"If it had been a lineman," Pius said, "it would have been worse."
Tribe outside linebackers coach
Darryl Blackstock said that like all successful plays, it was a group effort.
"He took advantage of the opportunity and did a really, really good job of not only putting himself in position but also finish the play as well," said Blackstock, a former OLB at Virginia who is No. 3 among the program's career sack leaders. "It would have been elite if he would have scored, but that's me staying on top of that boy."
It was a terrific performance by Pius, but he wasn't satisfied.
"I have to dominate more to be content," said Pius, the only FCS linebacker on this season's Butkus Award watch list. "There are plays I want back, not just for me but the whole defense. We could have played better."
Pius' 21.5 sacks are No. 5 on W&M's all-time sack list. Teammate
Nate Lynn, a defensive end, is second with 27.5.
For the season, Lynn is second in the CAA with 7.5 sacks. Pius is fourth with 6.5. Although each is for the greater good, they also keep an eye on each other.
"I think it's more of a non-verbal competition," Pius said. "Obviously, we both want to get to the QB. It's a healthy competition, and I think it drives us to do better."
